Pep Guardiola’s Comments on Potential Ten Hag Replacement Resurface

• Three managers have been tipped to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United
• Among them is Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim, who has been with the club since 2020
• Pep Guardiola is a huge admirer of Amorim, who is fairly new in management

One of the names thrown in the rumour mill as a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United has an admirer in Pep Guardiola.

Ten Hag is reportedly ‘treading thin ice’, after Manchester United’s latest defeat at the hands of Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, November 1.

Things are not going too well in the Premier League either, as the Red Devils sit eighth on the log, 11 points off league leaders Tottenham Hotspur.

The worst start to the league in 61 years has now led to rumours that the Dutchman, who only took charge of the club in 2022, is facing the sack.

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Ten Hag’s potential replacements

As cited on SportBible, former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is among those who have been linked with the Manchester United job.

There is no denying Zidane’s reputation as a winning manager, but there is another little-known name also in the mix – Ruben Amorim.

Who is Amorim?

Pre-dominantly a midfielder during his playing days, the 38-year-old began his managerial career with Casa Pia in 2018. He then proceeded to join Braga B.

But his ratings as a tactician shot through the roof when he took charge of Sporting Lisbon in 2020, leading them to a first title in 19 years in the 2020/21 campaign.

Last season, he also masterminded a famous victory over Arsenal in the Europa League.

What Guardiola said about Amorim

While Amorim’s CV is pretty weak and slim, he has the respect of Pep Guardiola who had interesting things to say about the young manager.

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"A year ago we won by five in Lisbon at this stage of the Champions League and they said 'how bad Sporting is,” Guardiola said prior to a Champions League clash against Sporting in 2022, as cited on Tribal Football.

"What a poor team. They had won the league. From my point of view their coach is one of the best at the moment. His team it was very, very good. Do you know what happened there? Five opportunities, five shots, five goals. It was 100%.

"How good is the coach, huh? This year we had chances, we drew with Leipzig and they say that Manchester City is a disaster."

Meanwhile, Manchester United will have the chance to get their season back on track when they take on Fulham in an early kick-off on Saturday, November 4.

3 other Premier League managers facing sack

Sports Brief also reported on some other managers in the Premier League who could get sacked due to poor results.

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Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola is among the managers currently under pressure as his side currently lies in 17th place, one point above the relegation zone.

Vincent Kompany is another sack candidate as his first season as a manager in the Premier League is not going according to plan.